Hello!
I am a 24-year-old female and I have had significant jaw pain when I chew anything or open my mouth wide. I've had this since I was at least 7 or 8. I haven't had it checked out until fairly recently, because my mom swore it would go away as I got older and that it was probably "just anxiety." I have always been pretty sure it's TMJ-related, and my symptoms seem to fit. When I had a doctor look at it, she gave me some anti-inflammatories but not much else. The anti-inflammatories didn't do much good at all. Currently, the left side of my jaw tends to hurt the most, but the right side does pretty regularly and the right side clicks while the left side doesn't (however, the left side used to click more often).
The gross symptom that my doctor didn't give me any information about is the most troubling, though. Every time I chew food, I can hear and faintly feel this gush of air (best way to describe it) that seems to be coming OUT of my left ear. It literally just sounds like a small "poof" and it's consistently quiet and the same length of time, which is just a second. I think it happens with each bite, although if I'm around others or talking, I don't notice it as distinctly as I do when I'm alone or when it's quiet. My hearing seems to be alright and I've never had any significant ear problems.
This concerns me a lot, and I also was a bit put off that my doctor didn't seem to find it to be important at all. She said that it would go away with the anti-inflammatories, but it certainly didn't.
I would like some advice, if possible, before I go back to a doctor and get the blow-off again! Thanks!